Mountainsmith Network Video Review (Features Score: 15; Access. Score: 8.7/10)

Mountainsmith Network

Overall:  Pros = 25.5 points; Cons = -10.5 points; The Mountainsmith Network Features Score = 15 points. (Score sheet posted below.)

I was disappointed by this soft sided briefcase.  The issues that were most striking were that the deep zipper covers that greatly impeded opening the bag and the interior was bright yellow in some places, but black in others. Another terrible design flaw was the decision to put a small patch of Velcro at the bottom of the luggage handle pass through sleeve.  Having a bit of Velcro at the bottom of this sleeve ostensibly allows you to use the sleeve as an open top document pocket (say for a magazine or file folder).  Unfortunately, a single piece of Velcro in this spot means two things: 1) you cannot place small items here (like your hotel room key card) as they will inevitably slip past either side of this Velcro "closure." and 2) anything with a bit of mass will eventually push its way through this Velcro and end up on the concourse floor as you rush to make your connection.  I just don't know why Mountainsmith did not simply add a full length zipper here instead.  What is more puzzling is that there is a narrow boarding pass pocket within this pass through sleeve.  That leads me to believe that they knew that people might want to use this area for small document.  So why did they create a complicated ineffective solution (adding a small pocket and bit of Velcro) when a simple effective solution (full length zipper) would have sufficed?  My guess is that it was an expense issue.

In general, it just seems like the folks at Mountainsmith did not put a lot of thought into some areas of this bag and overthought other areas of the bag.  It ends up making it into an overall mediocre bag.  

The Video Review:

Accessibility:

A bag's accessibility is rated on a 1 - 10 scale (10 = most).  Three major compartments are judged.  The accessibility score for this bag:

Organizer pocket(s) = 9. The compartment opens up like a secretary desk and reveals pockets of all shapes and types. It is also on the outside front of the bag. The problem?  The deep zipper cover fights with you when you zip and unzip this compartment.
Main compartment = 8.  Once again the deep zipper covers are an issue.  Worse than the organizer pocket.  Fortunately, once open, the flexibility of the bag allows it open wide so you access to all the pockets.  Too bad it's not all lined with the bright yellow nylon.
Laptop compartment = 9. Zipper covers. Why Mountainsith?  Why?  The bonus here is that it is TSA friendly making this crazy accessible once open.

Without the absurdly deep zipper covers, this bag could have been a perfect 10 on the accessibility scale.

Overall accessibility: 8.7 out of 10.

Photos:  

Front of bag

Rear of bag

Mesh water bottle pocket.  A bit too shallow, but big enough for a 750 mL bottle.

This is unpadded, but it could hold an iPhone 6 or smaller.

Top of the bag showing comfortable handles and connection points for shoulder strap

Overly deep zipper covers impede opening and closing

The spot of Velcro at the base of the luggage sleeve as mentioned above

The boarding pass pocket within the luggage sleeve

Looking into the luggage sleeve from above

The organizer pocket

A fleece lined pocket within the organizer - perfect size for sunglasses

Looking into the main compartment of the bag

Open top file folder pocket in the main compartment

The laptop compartment – TSA friendly

Here is the score sheet for this bag: The column "Item" includes particular aspects of the bag.  You will note that the top table includes items that earn positive points while the bottom table includes items that lose points for the bag.  The "Points" column are the potential points that a bag could earn or lose.  The "This Bag" column are the points that the bag under review has earned or lost.

Item	Points +	This Bag	Notes
Made with Cordura or similar nylon material	2	2
Straight stitching, doubled in high stress zones, taped seams - well put together	1	1
Made with soft polyester making it flexible, quiet, gentle on clothing	2
Stout zippers, large pulls, and hardware	1	1
Reinforced bottom for durability and/or weather resistance	1
Compression straps to slim bag	0.5
Large external water bottle pockets	2	2
Separate, external access to laptop compartment	3	3
Separate iPad pocket	3
Fleece-lined external pocket for eyeglasses or phone	3	2	not external
External pocket for eyeglasses or phone	2
Large rounded or paddded handle	1	1
Handle centrally placed (front to back)	0.5	0.5
Multitude of pockets for organization	2
Open slide in pocket for file folders (internal)	2	2
Open slide in pocket for file folders (external)	2	1	sort of
Ability to slide over handle of rolling luggage	1	1
Laptop section that is TSA friendly (opens up without laptop removal)	1	1
Flat bottom and perpendicular sides allow bag to stand on own	2	2
Organizer panel within an outer pocket to allow to easy access	1	1
A dedicated cell-phone pocket	1
A dedicated cell-phone pocket that is large enough to fit an iPhone 6	0.5
Large padded shoulder pad with stick coating	1
No Velcro used to keep flap closed (quiet and professional)	2	2
Xtra bright inner lining allowing you to see items easily	2	1	inconsistent
Light inner lining allowing you to see items easily	1
Stiff build that maintains the pack's structure when loading/placing	2	2
Outer lashing points for attaching accessories	1
	Total	25.5

Item	Points -	This Bag	Notes
Soft material that will not wear as well as nylon	-1
Simple handle that digs into hand	-0.5
Cannot stay upright due to design	-3
Tips forward when sitting - unstable	-1
No fleece lining in outside pocket for glasses	-1	-1
No fleece lining in the laptop or tablet pockets	-0.5	-0.5
No pass through for attaching to rolling luggage	-1
No separate tablet pocket	-2	-2
No external pocket for glasses, phone	-1
No flap for weatherproofing	-1	-1
No external pocket for holding a water bottle	-1
No lash points	-0.5	-0.5
Handle in middle prevents easily hanging bag on hook	-0.5	-0.5
Poor hardware choice or design (small zippers, placement of compression straps, etc.)	-1
Lack of reinforced bottom allow for excess wear and poor weatherproofing	-1	-1
Black interior making it hard to see item in the bottom of bag	-1	-0.5
No open file folder pocket	-2
Velcro closure for main flap (loud and unnecessary)	-2
No strap or buckle to hold laptop in pocket if in main   compartment	-1
No dedicated tablet pocket	-0.5	-0.5
The dedicated cell phone pocket will only fit a small phone	-0.5
Thin or nonexistent shoulder pad	-1	-1
Handle is located in such a way that picking up the bag kicks it into your knee	-0.5
Deep zipper covers that impede opening	-2	-2
	Total	-10.5